How We Made Your Mother

How To Play Xing Hai Shi Bu Xing | S2E8 “Atlantic City”

In this episode, Josh and Craig revisit Season 2, Episode 8: “Atlantic City,” written by Maria Ferrari, who started as a writer’s assistant before becoming a staff writer. They discuss the unusual challenge of writing a road-trip episode that takes the whole gang out of their usual sets and how that led to one of the longest rewrite nights of the early seasons. The conversation covers how the story’s emotional center—Lily trying to escape judgment by eloping with Marshall only to realize she can’t run from family—finally clicked during late-night rewrites, and how the episode became a metaphor about facing what you’re avoiding. Josh recalls on-set memories, like Ted’s Twizzler moment and Robin’s bikini-shirt gag, while Craig explains the origins of Barney’s fake Chinese gambling game (“Deal or No Deal,” a jab at the rival show). They also talk about guest star Kate Micucci, who sends in a warm voice memo about her brief role, and close with reflections on Cheers, improv, extras’ pay, the pressure of 22-episode seasons, and the meaning of the final song “Sink to the Bottom with You” by Fountains of Wayne—an anthem for commitment, even when it means sinking together. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website [http://www.howwemadeyourmother.com] (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howwemadeyourmother/] READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE [https://joshradnor.substack.com]. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE [https://craigthomaswriter.com/novel] to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE [https://www.howwemadeyourmother.com/makeadifference] to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ [https://officeladies.com/]or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod [https://www.instagram.com/officeladiespod/] Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@officeladiespod?_t=ZT-8y1gqTrJyOs&_r=1] AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website [https://www.joshradnor.com]Josh on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/43jyNhxEcJZ2YbwioBjCbY] Craig’s Official Website [https://craigthomaswriter.com] (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack [https://aleklev.substack.com] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Preview: Dinner’s On Me with Guest Josh Radnor

Josh recently sat down with his friend Jesse Tyler Ferguson for an episode of Jesse's podcast "Dinner's On Me." Both Josh and Jesse were on hit sitcoms during a very particular moment in TV's metamorphosis, and they've both had on-going, evolving relationships with the characters they played on those shows. Here's a preview of their conversation... To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

How We Met Ol' Swarley | S2E7 "Swarley"

Josh and Craig are joined by writer Greg Malins, who co-ran Friends before joining How I Met Your Mother for Season 2. They revisit the episode “Swarley” (aired December 8 2006), talking about how Greg helped shape the show’s tone, the accidental (or maybe subconscious) Friends dig in the coffee-shop cold open, and how the “Swarley” name was coined by Rob Greenberg. Greg reveals a never-before-revealed admission about a joke he… borrowed from Friends for this episode. The group discusses Marshall and Lily’s reunion scene, Robin Sparkles’ early origins, the importance of showing Barney lose for once, and how the cast’s joy made the “Swarley” storyline unforgettable. They end by answering a listener question from @SwarleyMemes about why the show’s humor still resonates today—deciding it’s because HIMYM’s jokes, like “Swarley” itself, come from love and timeless wordplay. Watch the original Friends clip HERE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VobE0QHJ8Hg] (around 2 minutes and 45 seconds in). CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website [http://www.howwemadeyourmother.com] (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howwemadeyourmother/] READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE [https://joshradnor.substack.com]. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE [https://craigthomaswriter.com/novel] to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE [https://www.howwemadeyourmother.com/makeadifference] to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ [https://officeladies.com/]or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram OfficeLadiesPod [https://www.instagram.com/officeladiespod/] Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@officeladiespod?_t=ZT-8y1gqTrJyOs&_r=1] AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website [https://www.joshradnor.com] Josh on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/43jyNhxEcJZ2YbwioBjCbY] Craig’s Official Website [https://craigthomaswriter.com] (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack [https://aleklev.substack.com] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

How We Broke Bad [with Bryan Cranston] | S2E6 "Aldrin Justice"

Season two, episode six of How We Made Your Mother features a special guest: the legendary Bryan Cranston, who joins Josh Radnor and Craig Thomas to revisit his first appearance as Hammond Druthers in “Aldrin Justice.” Cranston reflects on taking the role right after Malcolm in the Middle ended, how he almost didn’t get Breaking Bad if Fox had ordered another Malcolm season, and how one X-Files episode led Vince Gilligan to cast him as Walter White. The three dive into acting lessons, career timing, and luck—plus Cranston’s thoughts on confidence, craft, and why good writing is the only thing worth chasing. They talk about the hidden humanity behind Druthers’ egotism, the joy of unhinged characters, and Jane Seymour’s hilarious turn as the original “cougar.” Josh and Craig share behind-the-scenes stories about the episode’s writing, Lily’s “karma police” subplot, and early uses of the word “cougar,” while reflecting on jokes that don’t hold up and the importance of owning creative missteps. The conversation closes with thoughtful discussions about teaching, artistry, and the strange, lucky chain of moments that connect How I Met Your Mother to Breaking Bad. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website [http://www.howwemadeyourmother.com] (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howwemadeyourmother/] READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK: Subscribe HERE [https://joshradnor.substack.com]. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE [https://craigthomaswriter.com/novel] to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH: Click HERE [https://www.howwemadeyourmother.com/makeadifference] to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES: Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ [https://officeladies.com/]or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod [https://www.instagram.com/officeladiespod/] Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@officeladiespod?_t=ZT-8y1gqTrJyOs&_r=1] AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website [https://www.joshradnor.com] Josh on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/43jyNhxEcJZ2YbwioBjCbY] Craig’s Official Website [https://craigthomaswriter.com] (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack [https://aleklev.substack.com] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Flashback: How We Birthed a Turkey | S1E9 "Belly Full of Turkey"

To celebrate Thanksgiving, we are flashing back to our Season 1 rewatch of “Belly Full of Turkey.” Josh and Craig reflect on Lily’s hilarious but heartfelt journey into Marshall’s giant Minnesota family, while Ted, Robin, and Barney navigate their own offbeat holiday at a food shelter (and later, a strip club). They discuss Alyson Hannigan’s standout performance, the visual comedy of a Brooklyn girl in a land of giants, and the deeper emotional themes of family, identity, and partnership. With behind-the-scenes stories, a moving listener letter from Australia, and insights from Jordana about in-laws and marriage, this episode blends big laughs with big feelings—just like the show always did. CONNECT WITH THE SHOW: Official Website [http://www.howwemadeyourmother.com] (Send us your audio and written messages) Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/howwemadeyourmother/] READ JOSH’S MUSELETTERS ON SUBSTACK Subscribe HERE [https://joshradnor.substack.com]. CRAIG’S BOOK IS AVAILABLE! Head over to CRAIG’S WEBSITE [https://craigthomaswriter.com/novel] to order your copy of THAT’S NOT HOW IT HAPPENED. SUPPORT PEDIATRIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE RESEARCH Click HERE [https://www.howwemadeyourmother.com/makeadifference] to learn more and donate today. FOLLOW THE OFFICE LADIES Check out "Office Ladies" at https://officeladies.com/ [https://officeladies.com/]or wherever you get your podcasts! Follow on Instagram: OfficeLadiesPod [https://www.instagram.com/officeladiespod/] Follow on TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@officeladiespod?_t=ZT-8y1gqTrJyOs&_r=1] AND MORE: Josh’s Official Website [https://www.joshradnor.com]Josh on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/43jyNhxEcJZ2YbwioBjCbY] Craig’s Official Website [https://craigthomaswriter.com] (with links to his published writing) Alek’s “Dead Fathers Society” on Substack [https://aleklev.substack.com] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]